Virginia Delegation Salutes Bush Plan

June 28, 1989|By ROBERT BECKER and BOB KEMPER Staff Writer

WASHINGTON — In a red, white and blue flurry of patriotic sentiment, Virginia's congressional delegation endorsed President Bush's call Tuesday for a constitutional amendment banning the desecration of the American flag.

Nine members of the 10-man Virginia delegation were contacted Tuesday evening. Each decried last week's Supreme Court decision that banned criminal penalties for flag burning, calling the decision "regrettable" and "wrong-headed." Rep. D. French Slaughter Jr., R-7th, could not be reached.

Olin said the ruling was misguided and agreed with Bateman that the issue had gone beyond free speech.

"It's a question of whether an act of desecration is an act of terrorism, an act to incite," Olin said.

Olin added that the Supreme Court ruling ignores the fact that the flag is a symbol of the country, and desecration "is an act against the country."

Like Olin, Wolf introduced legislation outlawing the burning or abuse of the flag.

In a speech delivered on the House floor last week, Wolf said "thousands of Americans have lost their lives fighting for the freedom the flag embodies. ... It is only proper that we protect this symbol of all the United States stands for."

"The U.S. Supreme Court's decision allowing the burning of our flag is something that may be constitutionally protected speech, but it is wrong," Wilder said in a prepared statement read by a spokeswoman. "I think the flag is special and should be so treated."

"I think the president is on the right track with this," Coleman said. "The Supreme Court has really walked into some quicksand on this opinion."